Written by Carey Finn
Researched by Alexandra Ziminski
The cherry blossom festivals along Meguro River are back — including the famous Nakameguro River Cherry Blossom Festival.
Nakameguro Canal is one of the most visited cherry blossom spots in Tokyo.
What happens?
This year, there will be food stalls and performances on weekends, as well as the famous cherry trees being illuminated from Ikejiri-Ōhashi Station to Meguro Station in the evening. They will look the best at sunset, with lanterns naming local people and businesses.
Note that the dates of this festival are sometimes changed slightly to match the blossoms.
Schedule 2025
There will be several different festivals and events along Meguro River, taking place on different dates:
- Meguro River Cherry Blossom Illumination (From when blossoms bloom to Mar. 31): The cherry trees will be lit up from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Meguro River Lantern Light Up (From when blossoms bloom for 14 days): Pink lanterns will be hung and will be illuminated from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. along the river between Ikejiri-Ōhashi Station and Meguro Station.
- Nakame Ohanami Park (Mar. 20 to Apr. 6): The majority of the food trucks will be near Meguro River Park from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- 39th Nakameguro River Cherry Blossom Festival (Mar. 29 to 30): Performances will take place at Confluence Playground near Naka-Meguro Station from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
- Meguro River East Area Cherry Blossom Festival (Mar. 29 to 30): Performances and stalls at Dendō Square Park and Fureai Bridge near Meguro Station from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to get to the Meguro River Cherry Blossom Festival
The closest station to the river depends on what you want to see. If you want to go for the illuminations, then your best bet is starting from either Naka-Meguro Station or Ikejiri-Ōhashi Station (note that the path is one way between Chitosebashi Bridge and Hinodebashi Bridge).
When does cherry blossom season start in Tokyo?
Check out our Tokyo Cherry Blossom Forecast. For all the blossoms, see our Best Cherry Blossoms Spots in Tokyo Mega Guide, for late-night views, check out our guide to Yozakura events and for elsewhere in Japan check our forecast!
